Efficient Frontiers for Other Retirement Spending Goals
Efficient Frontiers for Other Retirement Spending Goals
Deciphering the Annuity Puzzle
My Advisor Perspectives column for July is now available. It is, “Deciphering the Annuity Puzzle: Practical Guidance for Advisors.” In this column, I explain the economic theory behind the puzzle. The puzzling issue is why people do not annuitize more of their…
Ten Reasons Why the 4% Rule is Too Simplistic for Retirement Planning
What is the highest withdrawal amount as a percentage of retirement date assets that with inflation adjustments will be sustainable for the full 30 years? Here are 10 reasons that 4% may not be the appropriate withdrawal rate for every new retiree.
It is Optimal for Retirees to Plan for Reduced Spending with Age
A general assumption is that people plan to spend a constant inflation-adjusted amount for as long as they live. However, this spending plan is actually not optimal for any reasonable set of preferences about the tradeoff between spending now and later, even if we assume that future market returns are known in advance.
Why Do Economists Say There is an Annuity Puzzle?
Economists are known for describing the annuity puzzle. The puzzle is: why do people not purchase income annuities (exchange a lump sum payment for a guaranteed lifetime income stream) to the extent predicted by economic theory? A number of explanations have been…
The Shocking International Experience of the 4% Rule
The Shocking International Experience of the 4% Rule. An argument made in support of the 4% rule is that despite what I argued before, post-1926 U.S…
Are market valuations the most important factor for retirement income strategies?
The question remains as to whether historical withdrawal rates provide sufficient insight about what can reasonably be expected to work for more recent retirees.
Spending Amounts vs Spending Value
How much should you plan to spend each year in retirement? That depends in large part on your budget.
Fixed Time Horizons vs. Survival Probabilities for Retirement Planning
The planning horizon for the 4% rule is 30 years, but how long will your retirement really last?
Safety-First Retirements Are Expensive with Low Interest Rates
Building an inflation-protected spending floor in retirement can be incredibly expensive in a low interest rate environment.
Retirement Planning Guidelines: An Alternative to the Trinity Study
Today, I’d like to suggest an alternative table for prospective retirees to use. This table is based on the same data as the Trinity study table, but using Monte Carlo simulations instead of historical simulations.
Are Annuities (SPIAs) Okay When Interest Rates are Low?
Readers of my last blog entry, Annuities and Delayed Social Security, provided many valuable comments, prompting me to now write a follow-up post. Most of the discussion centered on a chart showing the relationship between annuity payout rates and interest rates. That…